Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of six awarded to Private T. Woolley, 16th (1st City Pals) Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (23036 Pte. T. Woolley. 16/Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals (23036 Pte. T. Woollry. Manch. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (23036 Pte. T. Woolley. Manch R.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (6) £300-£400

M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917.

Thomas Woolley was born at Oldham on 1 June 1896, and enlisted into the 16th (Service) Battalion (1st City Pals), Manchester Regiment, which was raised at Manchester on 28 August 1914. He joined the battalion in France sometime early in 1916. In the Battalion War Diary his M.M. is shown in a list of awards for August 1917, almost certainly for the attack on 30/31 July, the battle of Pilkem. He was wounded in action on 25 November 1917. After the armistice he served with the 2nd Manchesters in Iraq, including the V.C. action at Hillah on 24 July 1920. Woolley re-enlisted for the Territorial Army on 16 November 1939, serving with the Manchesters for 281 days before transferring to the Royal Artillery (Heavy Anti Aircraft) with whom he served 4 years 293 days in the rank of Bombardier.

Sold with Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, two photographs and copied research.